272 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



Chalk's Early Jewel : nearly as early ; fruit large, smooth, regular in form 

 and ripening evenly; bright scarlet; continuous bearing. 



Dwarf Champion : low growing, upright ; fruit medium, pink to purplish 

 red, according to locality; popular in the interior heat, especially at the south 

 and in the foothills of central California. 



Stone: tall and fruitful; fruit large, smooth, uniform, bright red, solid; 

 widely popular in California for canning and shipping. A Dwarf Stone, 

 resembling Dwarf Champion in growth is also a good shipping variety at 

 the south and New Improved Stone is also approved in that part of the state. 



San Filippo: firm and of good color; popular in the San Francisco bay 

 district 



Ponderosa : a strong growing vine ; fruit very large, somewhat irregular 

 and variable in color, usually light red ; flesh thick but not always firm. 



Trophy: vigorous and productive; fruit deep red, somewhat irregular, 

 solid and firm in the true type, with ring-mark at apex; chiefly grown for 

 canning in Alameda county, displacing Stone. 



San Jose Canner: large, scarlet, smooth and solid and very productive; 

 fine table variety and approved by canners. 



There is an opinion current among California growers that 

 even the best of the eastern improved tomatoes are still further im- 

 proved by California growing conditions if constant selection is 

 practiced to preserve the best types. For instance the "Trophy" is 

 very largely grown as a late tomato for canners' use, and planters 

 insist upon securing California grown seed, but careless seed saving 

 resulted in Trophies widely different from the true type and very 

 inferior. 



In each of the large growing districts there is much to be 

 learned about the locally most satisfactory varieties by observation 

 and inquiry. Cannery managers and field men should also be con- 

 sulted as to varieties most acceptable for their uses. The amateur, 

 however, is not hampered by such requirements and can range the 

 large lists as he pleases. 



TOMATO TROUBLES. 



The tomato plant has a number of diseases of which the plant 

 pathologists of the University have made close study for several 

 years and of which Circular 147 by Prof. Rogers, to which allusion 

 has been made earlier in this chapter, gives the latest account. The 

 first to be encountered, that is in the seed-bed, is "damping off," 

 which has been discussed in Chapter XL Next is the "winter 

 blight," a blackening of the leaves, which is prevented by the Bor- 

 deaux mixture applied as soon as its first signs appear. Then there 

 is "blossom end rot," which seems to be controlled by culture and 

 irrigation which gives the plant regular and adequate soil-moisture. 

 "Leaf spot" shows itself in angular spots with pale centers and col- 

 ored edges and is checked by Bordeaux mixture. "Summer blight" 

 kills plants usually in the spring and the symptoms are curling and 

 yellowing of the leaves and collapse of the whole plant quickly. No 

 cause has been determined. Fortunately plants set after June for 

 the main crop are less seriously affected than earlier in the season. 

 No treatment seems to have any effect. 



